~ Students passionate about fashion.

Monthly Archives: February 2012

One of the privileges of working in fashion is that you don’t have to deal with a stuffy corporate dress-code. Fashion is pleasure and creativity.

The shirt collar closed exposes your discipline, your basic jeans and heels enhance ease your pace. It is a simple and sophisticated look at the same time. That is why this kind of look is perfect for any kind of jobs, especially internships.

Enjoy a rich source of healthy monounsaturated fats and vitamin A from this Mexican and Southwestern favorite!

Prep and Cook Time: 3 minutesServing Size: 1

Ingredients:

1/2 medium ripe avocado

1 tablespoon lemon or lime juice

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

Sea salt and pepper to taste

1 tomato, diced

Serve with:

1/2 cup carrot strips

1/2 cup celery sticks

1/2 cup sliced cucumbers

Directions:

Combine all ingredients except the tomatoes in a blender and blend for 1 minute. Then mix freshly diced tomatoes before serving. Alternatively, mash the avocado with a potato masher or fork and then add the rest of the ingredients before serving.

The 84th Academy Awards, the Oscars, occurred last night in Hollywood, CA. The Oscars are the biggest night in Hollywood and the red carpet gets full of celebrities amazingly dressed. So, who was your favorite star this year? Here is a selection of 10 of most commented dresses on the red carpet:

With all the attention being paid to the fall 2012 shows and styles, I would like to remind you all of the fun spring trends coming our way and inform you fashionistas of the styles you should start stocking your closets with.

AB ALERT

In the words of Karl Lagerfeld, “Fashion is the healthiest form of motivation for losing weight.” This trend will definitely be some motivation to get your body in tip-top shape. Models all over the spring 2012 runways flaunted their stomachs as ab bearing outfits presented themselves as a popular trend.

[Anthony Vaccarello/ Aquilano Rimondi/ Roland Mouret]

ROARING TWENTIES REVAMPED

One of my favorite trends for this spring is the 1920’s inspired style. There’s plenty of fun to be introduced by interesting art deco prints to your wardrobe and classic style to be flaunted with the modern twists to the flapper dress.

[Gucci/Christian Dior/Etro]

SPORT STYLE

Don’t worry you don’t have to have any special athletic talents to participate in this trend. From ancient Greek inspired sporting outfits to a new twist on sweatpants and hoodies, snazzy sportswear is a trend for everyone.

[Alexander Wang/ Michael Kors/ Ohne Titel]

PALE PALETTE

Prepare to give your super bright and neon color pieces a break. We get a palette color cleanse as pastels graced the runaway as a for sure spring trend at many designer’s shows.

H&M announced its next collaboration last year with the Italian women’s wear label Marni. The fashion company was founded by Consuelo Castiglioni in 1994. Today the brand has boutiques in the most fashionable cities such as London, New York, Los Angeles, and Sydney.

While the full collection is still unavailable for public view, from what we can see the line is chic, fashion forward and understated, all qualities true to Marni’s designs.

The Marni at H&M collection launch took place at Lloyd Wright’s Sowden House, in Los Angeles on Friday the 17th. On the red carpet, we saw strings of celebrities such as Freida Pinto and Mila Jovovich, supporting the collaboration by showing off the collection.

The Marni for H&M collection will be in stores in March 8th, in more than 200 stores around the world and online. The collection will feature women and menswear, shoes, bags as well as accessories.

Here you can find the gorgeous video commercial shot in Marrakech, directed by Sofia Coppola.

“In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”
– Coco Chanel

Many of us know of Coco Chanel as a woman ahead of her times for fashion designing. What most of us don’t know is how she became who she was.

Before she was known as Coco she grew up as Gabrielle in Saumur, France. Her mother was a laundrywoman and he father was a street peddler. Within a few years her mother died of tuberculosis and her father sent her and her sister to an orphanage. The orphanage, Aubazine taught Coco how to sew and after she turned 18 sent went to live in the boarding house in Moulin’s where she got a job as a seamstress. Besides sewing she would sing in a cabaret, where she got the nickname of Coco. An ex-officer named Balsan grew fond of her singing and she became his mistress for quite some time. During that time she grew to love another man named Arthur Capel, otherwise known as “Boy”, who ended up helping Coco finance her first shop in Paris. Tragically she lost “Boy” in a car accident.

It is said that the famous Chanel No.5 perfume bottle shape was based on the toiletry bottles or the design of the whiskey decanter that Capel carried on himself. Chanel also dealt with the times of women designers not being very common and broke the social norm with high classed friends wearing her garments that she had created. She also created a stir wearing suits which were only worn my men back in those times.

Having death and war in her life time, Coco Chanel never gave up. She was a fashion innovator of her time; she did what no other person out there had the balls to do. Chanel changed the idea dressings of a woman of her time from frilly to more purposeful and simple. Without Chanel in the fashion industry, who knows where we would be at today!

“There have been several Duchesses of Westminster
but there is only one Chanel!”
– Coco Chanel

For those who don’t know who she is, Alexa Chung is a British television presenter, model and fashion icon. By being a TV presenter in London, Alexa had access to amazing clothes collections and also to fashion circles, as one of her assignments was interviewing Karl Lagerfeld in Chanel’s backstage.

Her unique style, from head to toes, started calling attention and her pictures were popping in every style magazine. She’s been on the cover of Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar and she is also ambassador for several brands. Remember the best seller Alexa bag by Mulberry? Well, she was the inspiration.

She has this tomboy, girly, romantic styles all mixed together in a way that gives her an identity that made her internationally known. Even her haircut became a must-have for women.

A few days ago, Alexa was elected the new “Young Style Ambassador” by the British Fashion Council. Her job is to keep promoting British fashion design talent in the global market.

“I always name London first when asked which city in the world has the best style. There’s something so inherently rebellious about how people naturally style themselves. Brits aren’t afraid to experiment or take risks with how they look, perhaps that’s why London has always been home to the most dynamic and daring designers in the world. I adore fashion and am proud that it’s now officially my job to champion those London designers both new and established that inspire me so much.” said Alexa.

I can’t think of anyone better than Alexa Chung for the Young Style Ambassador position, can you? British designers have nothing to worry about because she is a remarkable representative!

The modern romantic girl has always been an inspiration to me. So it’s perfect that soft pastel colors and mixing prints are fashion trends right now!

A simple soft pink pastel top works because the repetition in color is found on the shorts so there is a balance in the outfit. This look is perfect for work and play because it’s fun without showing off too much. The shorts will show off your legs and what better way to kick that up a notch than with some weather-appropriate Oxford booties to show off your toned legs! Since mixing prints is the key here, dont’ be afraid to throw on a pair of polka-dot tights to contrast your floral shorts. By adding a vintage styled black shoe, simple girly butterfly earrings and a different color pastel purse your outfit will be complete!

So how many of you fashion forecasters remember when Lady Gaga’s Marry the Night music video came out early last November? She said and I quote, “I tipped their gauze caps to the side like Parisian berets, because I think its romantic, and I also believe that mint will be very big in fashion next spring.” As it turns out, she was completely spot on! Mint is everywhere right now, from preppy heels to flowy dresses to smartly structured pants.

Vera Wang’s take on the trend for her 2012 spring collection is anything but expected. An elegantly structured mesh-like top with a dreamy sheer skirt on bottom balance the look. I hope similar looks make their way to affordable stores soon!

Below is Tory Burch’s Grecian billowing gown, accentuated with beaded accessories. In this case, a huge chunky necklace and a flamboyant bow work only because they are variations of the same shade. And the shoes are nothing short of perfection!

These glorious creations from the modern fashion goddesses are nice to dream about, but how can this trend translate into real life? Well…I’ve been obsessed with the color mint for a few months now, and I’ve already done some online shopping. I bought a matching blazer and dress with a sweetheart neckline from Lulu’s Fashion Lounge accentuated with mint-frame glasses from Charlotte Russe. Just add some nude or white pumps and a dramatic hat – you’re all ready to sip a mint julep at sunny Churchill Downs on May 5th!

Hundreds of cameras snapped shots last week at New York’s fashion week inside The Lincoln Center, The Piers, and Milk Studios of next season’s to-die-for looks presented by many elite designers at hundreds of shows. But take a step outside and it’s a whole other realm of fashion. To most fashionistas, it would be known almost as a rule to always be snap shot ready in New York, but at fashion week the street style is taken to another level. Photographer Tommy Ton and Scott Schuman was sure to capture all these daring fashion styles wandering from show to show.

A sophisticated cashmere blazer with an edgy pair of white biker gloves and a Baroque-inspired statement necklace. Um, yes please?

It would be hard not to pay attention to these Alexander Wang’s Simona heels stomping on the streets of the Big Apple.

A photo that embodies everything that fashion week should stand for, style and fun.

A classic city shot with an idle yellow cab in the background, but not drawing attention away from the beautiful woman looking cozy but cool in a 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater.

Be not afraid of a statement piece or two this Spring as she might say in this chic ensemble of teal sweater, jewelry and sunglasses.

Designer and style and accessories director for US Marie Claire magazine, Taylor Tomasi Hill, has more to show off than just her job. She was spotted running from show to show looking effortless!